Relief-valve.



Vigne/556g? PATBNTED DEG. Z7, 1904.

G. o. DAVIS. RELIEF VALVE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 17, 1904.

Patented December 27, 1904.

UNITED .STATES vPATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE O.4 DAVIS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

vRELIEF-VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 778,226, dated December 27', 1904.

Application filed March 17, 1904:. Serial No. 198,583.

T0 alwhom/ it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE O. DAVIS, acitizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Impro-vement in Relief-Valves, of which the following is a specification.l

My invention relates to relief-valves for engines, and has for its object to provide means foil automatically counterbalancing the reliefva ve.

The accompanyingl drawing shows a vertical sectional view of one form of my device.

My valve is particularly adapted to be used upon steam turbine-engines which operate in a vacuum caused by the condensation of steam in the condenser or in any other preferred way, the valvebeing designed to automatically give vent to the eXhau'st-steamwhen such steam is not for any reason 'so condensed or confined. v

Referring to the drawing, A represents the curved outer shell of the valve, which has the two circular openings A and A2 opposite each other, the shell A having the flanges A3 at theseplaces suitable for connection with pipes leading to and from the valve.

- B is a circular top piece secured to the shell A with an air-tight connection by the capscrews B and recessed at B2. The bottom piece C, which is circular and recessed, is in like manner secured to the shell A by screws C'. Integral withthe bottom piece C is the hollow cylindrical part O2, having two series of ports O3 and O2 and near its joining with bottom piece C. The body of the valve as thus formed is divided into two chambers, one opening to the atmosphere through aperture A2 and the other,l normally a vacuumchamber, connected with the condenser by aperture A. This separation into chambers is made by the curved division-wall D, which is preferably integral with the shell A, and by disk E. The `wall D in its horizontal part has a circular aperture around which-are the flanges D, supporting the anges D2 of an annular strip of metal or other material D2, which serves as a seat for the valve-disk E. The disk E has a circular groove E on the under side near its circumference to receive the annular seat D3. In this groove is the circular strip E2, preferably of Babbitt metal.

.its perimeter lrecessed for the snap-rings or other suitable packing G2, the disk G when at its lowest position in such cylindrical part making a tight connection with the wall thereof, and thereby closing ports O2. The disk G v has screw-threaded apertures registering with the apertures in the disk E, and the two disks are rigidly held together by bolts F and nuts F', so that when disk E rests upon the seat D3 and closes the vacuum-chamber the disk G is in Vposition to close the port O2,.and con,

thread to engage the 'threaded stem H', which is operated by hand-wheel H2. The end of the stem H' can be made to contact with the projection G on the disk G and lift such disk, so that the valve may be repaired or access be had to the inner part of thevacuum-chamber. This device plays no part in the automatic operation ofthe valve.

As it is well known that a connection such as-that made by disk G with the circular wall O2 cannot be rendered air-tight when there is a vacuum created on one side of it, it will be obvious that the recess or chamber between bottom piece O and disk G will also be a vacuum-chamber whenv the condenser is in operation, the connections with parts H and H and around the aperture in bottom piece- C, to be referred to hereinafter, being under-v The disk E carries on its under side at intervacuum-chamber through the aperture last referred to extends the vertical pipe J, connected by a suitable elbow J with horizontal pipe J2, which has across it the wall K, with a circular aperture which is closed from below by the valve K, having the stem K2. In the pipe J2 below the valve is an opening for the plug J3 and above the valve a vertical secured together.

' disks E and Gr at a place outside of the cylindrical part C2. Pipe J2, beyond the valve, is connected by a suitable elbow J 7 with a vertical pipe J 3, which enters the body of the valve on the atmosphere side through an aperture in the shell A.

Through a suitable opening in the recessed part B2 of the top piece B extends the rockshaft L, (shown by dotted lines in the drawing,) on one end of which is rigidly secured the lever-arm L', having notches at regular intervals to retain in position the weight L2. On the rock-shaft L, within the recessed part B2, is the arm L3, the shaft being preferably squared at this point. Pivoted in `one end to the end of the arm L3 and at the other end to the projection E2 on the disk E is the arm L1, the function of the parts just described being' to transmit the pressure of the adjustableA weight L2 to the disk E.

l have now described with some particularity the dierent parts of my device; but it will be clear that there may be a considerable variation from the precise constructions sho wn without departing from the spirit of my invention, and therefore I do not limit myself to the particular devices and constructions herein shown.

The device whereby the equalizing or coun- /terbalancing pressure is applied to one side of the valve device responsive to variations in the pressure of the low-pressure chamber may be greatly varied, its essential feature being capacity to transmit at the proper time counterbalancing pressure to the proper side of the valve device.

The use and operation of my valve are as follows: As has been shown, when the condenser of the engine is operating in the usual and proper manner a vacuum will be formed in the chamber made by wall D and disk E, the disk resting on the seat D3 and making an air-tight connection therewith. lThe weight L2, which has been set when the engine was begun to be operated, exerts a downward pressure on the disk E according to the adjustment, such a pressure being that which it is character.

intended that the exhaust-steam will have to overcome in order to ind vent by thc automatic operation of the valve. The vacuum thus created will cause a vacuum in the chamber between bottom piccc C and disk E, it being impossible, as has been said, to make a perfectly tight connection between the parts of this chamber. This vacuum will extend through pipe J 3 and on one side of diaphragm K3. The other side of the diaphragm, however,is acted upon by the pressure of the atmosphere through the pipe J3, and consequemzly the diaphragm will be pressed upward and Valve K held to its seat. if now for any rea son the condenser ceases working, the steam will pass into the chamber under disk E and exert a pressure tending to raise disk E against the weight of the atmosphere. As the steam or other iiuid will not pass so readily into the lower vacuum-chamber between C and G as it was drawn therefrom, (as is well known in constructions 'of this sort,) the steam would be obliged to exert a very considerable upward pressure before the disks could be lifted-that is, a pressure in excess ol atmospheric pressure. To obviate this, l have provided the pipe connection J J2 J3, leading from the lower vacuum-cham ber to th atmosphere, and its accompanying valve and diaphragm. Then the steam enters the upper vacuumchamber, it passes down through pipe J and exerts a downward pressure upon diaphragm K3, unseating valve K', thereby allowing the air to pass into the chamber below disk (i, so as to approximately equalize the pressure below disk G and above disk E. Therefore when the steam has suiiicient head to lift the disks against the weightL2, which has been adjusted as desired, it can escape from under disk l into the outer chamber. ,The ports C when opened by the lifting of disk G aii'ord an additional escape for steam and water. Thus when the device has introduced the counterbalancing pressure into the chamber it may not effect a perfect counterbalaneing, and hence under some conditions it may be necessary or desirable to introduce the pressure from the low-pressure chamber, which is by escape through the valve introduced to the chamber from which J3 opens directly, and this is effected by means of the valve-opening C'L and, if the motion is contained, (J3.

I have used the term vacuum-cbamberg but for the purposes of the claims `l shall use the more general term low-pressure chamber. It will also be understood that the connection at A3 may be made with any device so that there may be the atmospheric or other pressure in the chamber or at the mouth of the pipe J3.- It will also be understood that the particular structure for transmitting the pressure from the mouth of the pipe J 3 to the chamber beneath the diskG may be of any desired It will also be understood that the presence of water or other iiuids in any part IOO IXO

ofthe ldevice will not necessarily aiect its operation, as the pressures required can be transmitted through any kind of iuids.

Iclaiml. An automatic relief-valve for engines having a normally low-pressure chamber communicating with the exhaust-passage of the engine, a passage-way with a higher pressure,

a valve-opening between such chamber and passage-way, a valve device movable at a predetermined increase of pressure in the lowpressure chamber to allow the escape of fluid through the valve-aperturea second lchainber to permit a pressure to be exerted upon the valve device counterbalancing the pressure from the passage-way thereupon, and means actuated by the increase'oi pressure in the first low-pressure' chamber for effecting such counterbalancing pressure in the second chamber.

2. An automatic reliefvalve forenginesl sure to such air-chamber.

- 3. An automatic relief valve for engines having a low-pressure chamber communicating with the exhaust-passage of the engine, a valve-opening therein, a movable valve device to permit the escape of viiuid through the valveopening, such device vcomprising two rigidlyconnected disks, a hollow cylindrical member in the low-pressure chamberv adapted to receive one disk of the valve device so as to form a second chamber, means actuated by the increased pressure of i'luid in the low-pressure chamber for admittingy a counterbalancing pressure into such second chamber.

t. An automatic relief-valve for engines having a normally low-pressure chamber communicating with the exhaust-passage of the engine, a passage-way with a higher pressure, a valve-opening between such chamber and passage-way, a .valve device movable at a pre-- determined increase of pressure in the chamber to allow the escape of' liuid through the Valve-aperture, a second chamber-to permit a pressure to be exerted upon the valve device counterbalancing the pressure fromthe passage-way thereupon, means actuated by the increase of pressure in the first low-pressure chamber for effecting such counterbalancing pressure in the secondl chamber, and means for directly connecting the low-pressure chamber with the second chamberai'ter the valve device has'moveda certain distance.

5. An automatic relief-valve for engines yhavinga low-pressure chamber commiinicating with the exhaust-passage of the engine, a

valve-opening therein communicating with the atmosphere, a movable valve device to permit the escape ofi-fluid at predetermined pressure from the low-pressure chamber, an airchamberadapted to effect a pressure on the valve device coiinterbalancing the pressure of the atmosphere at the valve-opening, a device actuated by the pressure of iuid in the lowpressure lchamber for admitting air-pressure to such air-chainber, and means for directly connecting the low-pressure chamber with the second chamber after the valve has moved a certain distance.

6. An automatic relief-valve for engines having a low-pressure chamber communicating with the exhaust-passage of the engine, a

' valve-opening therein, a movable valve device to permit the escape of iuid through the valveopening, such device comprising two rigidlyconnected disks, a hollow cylindrical member in the low-pressure chamber adapted to re- .ceive one disk of the valve device so as to forma second chamber, means actuated by the increasedpressure of iiuid in the lower-pressure chamber for admitting a couiiterbalanc- `ing pressure into such second chamber, and

means for directly connecting the low-pressure chamber with the second chamber after the valve has moved a certain distance.

7.' An automatic relief-valve for'engines comprising a low-pressure chamber commu nicating with the exhaust-passage of the engine, a valve-opening therein, a movable valve device to close or open such Valve under varying conditions of pressure, anr air-chamber IOO adapted to effect a pressure on the movable valve device counterbalancing the pressure lthereon at the valve-opening, means actuated by increase of pressure of fluid in the lowpressure' chamber for admitting air .tosuch air-chamber, and adjustable means for prede- Y termining the amount of Huid-pressure required to operate such valve device.

8.'An automatic relief-valve'for engines comprising a low-pressure chamber communicating with the exhaust-passage ofthe env gine, a valve-opening therein, amovable valve device to close or open such valve, under varying conditions of pressure, an air-chamber adapted to eect a pressure. on the movable valve device counterbalancing the pressure thereon at the valve-opening, means actuated by increasevof pressure of iuid in the lowvpressure chamber for admitting air to suchy air-chamber, andy adjustable means for predetermining the amount of uidpressure required to operate such valvedevice, and a device for manually moving such valve device from' its seat.

9. An automatic relief-valve for engines having a low-pressure chamber. communicating with the exhaustpassage of thevengine, a valve-opening therein communicating with the IIO iis

atmosphere, and a valve-seat associated therewith, a movable device to permit the escape of fluid at predetermined pressure from the low-pressure chamber, such valve device comprising two disks with a rigid connection between them, one oi' the disks being adapted to engage with the valve-seat, and having radial guide-wings thereon, an air-chamber adapted to effect a pressure upon the other disk of the valve device counterbalancing the pressure of the atmosphere at the valve-opening, and a device actuated by the pressure of Huid in the low-pressure chamber for admitting air or water to such air-chamber.

l0. An automatic relief-valve for engines having a vacuum chamber communicating with the exhaust-passage of the engine, a valveopening therein communicating with the atmosphere, a movable valve device to permit the escape of fluid at predetermined pressure from the vacuum-chamber, an air-chamber adapted to effect a pressure on the valve device counterbalancing the pressure of the atmosphere thereon at the valve-opening, and a device actuated by pressure of fluid in the vacuum-chamber for admitting air to such airchamber, such device comprising an inlet-pipe having a valve controlling the supply of the air therethroughl to the airchamber, a diaphragm-chamber with a diaphragm thereacross associated with such valve, and a pipe connection from the vacuum chamber and leading to the diaphragm-chamber on the side of the diaphragm opposite from the valve.

11. An automatic relief-valve for engines having a normally low-pressure chamber communicating with the exhaust-passage of the engine, a passage-way with a higher pressure, a valve-opening between suoli chamber and passage-way, a valve device movable at a predetermined increase of pressure in the chamber to allow the escape of fluid through the valve-aperture, a second chamber to permit a pressure to be exerted upon the valve device counterbalancing the pressure `from the passage-way thereupon, and means responsive to variations in the pressure ot' the low-pressure chamber adapted to introduce from some other source a eounterbalancing pressure in the said second chamber.

12. An automatic relief-valve lor engines comprising a valve-chamber with a valve device therein normally7 closed by superior pressure on one side thereof and adapted to be opened by increased pressure on the low-pressure side, and means actuated by variations in the pressure on the low-pressure side and adapted to introduce an increasing` pressure on that side, so that the total pressure on the low-pressure side exceeds the pressure on the high-pressure side.

13. An automatic relief-valve for engines comprising a valve-chamber with a valve device therein normally closed by superior pressure on one side thereof and adapted to be opened by increased pressure on the low-pressure side, and means responsive to variations in the pressure on the low-pressure side and adapted to introduce increased pressure from a source other than the low-pressure side ol the valve, so that the total pressure on the low-pressure side exceeds the pressure on the high-pressure side.

14. A relief-valve comprising a valve-case, a seat, and a valve proper, with a superior pressure to seat the valve on one side and an inferior pressure from the chamber to be relieved on the other side, means responsive to variations in the pressure on the low-pressure side and adapted to apply increased pressure thereto to counter-balance the superior pressure.

GEORGE (l. DAVIS. Witnesses:

HoMnR L. KRAFT, ANsoN B. SWEET. 

